Releasing Stress with Neurographics

Neurographic art was created by Pavel Piskarev, PhD, professor and founder of the Institute of Creativity. One interpretation of this fascinating process comes from MORA (Ann Morrallee) - www.neurographica.net

 Neurographica Art, founded by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev in 2014, merges the principles of psychology with artistic creation. The fundamental concept behind this art form lies in the interplay between the conscious and subconscious minds. By tapping into the brain's neural network, artists can express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences in visually striking ways.

I have recently been introduced to this modality and have decided to incorporate it into my healing process. I am still a beginner and I look forward each day to creating another drawing. One of the "rules" is to create without interpretation. I love the lesson of flow that I am getting from this process. 

The course I am taking is with www.mindfulline.com . There is so much information on this website and I encourage you to check it out and see if you are ready to change beliefs, fears, patterns, etc. From the website:

BY DRAWING WITH UNIQUE ALGORITHMS, YOU CREATE NEW NEURAL PATHWAYS IN YOUR BRAIN THAT LEAD STRAIGHT TO YOUR ASPIRATIONS.

 

 

Cross-Patterning with Eyes

 Cross-patterning exercises are so important for brain hemisphere integration which revitalizes your energy and makes decision making and learning easier. 

You FEEL with your eyes, so often eye exercises bring up emotional responses. If any emotions, tension or pain surfaces while doing the exercise below, place one hand on your forehead and the other on the back of your head. Take a deep breath and release all of the energy. This alone is a wonderful technique for releasing stress and quieting the mind.

CROSS-PATTERNING EXERCISE:

Keeping your head still and using your eye muscles only:

1. Bring your eyes up to the LEFT;
2. 
   Down to the RIGHT;
3.  Up to the RIGHT;
   
4.  Down to the LEFT;
5.  Extend your eyes STRAIGHT UP;
6.  Bring your eyes STRAIGHT DOWN;
7. Repeat steps 1 through 6, seven times;
8. End with steps 1 - 4, tracing the X.

As you do this exercise, really extend your eye muscles with each movement. Take deep breaths as you go.  When this is comfortable to do with your eyes open, repeat the exercise with your eyes closed.

A simple brain hemisphere exercise: 

Just look at an X or close your eyes and imagine an X! 

While your child is doing homework, keep an image of an X on the desk to energize the brain. Also it is helpful when driving long distance and looking at parallel lines for hours. Keep an image of an X on your dashboard and look at it periodically to stay alert.

 

Cross-Patterning - So Simple, Yet Powerful

I love when something simple produces powerful results! And, that is where cross-patterning exercise, also called Cross Crawl, comes in. Every time you walk, run, play tennis, dance, you are activating your brain hemispheres by physically crossing the
mid-line of your body. 

Cross-Patterning can be done sitting or standing. Bring the opposite hand to the opposite knee and repeat with both hands. That is the basic move. To make it more fun, put on music and try different variations such as reaching behind to touch the opposite foot. To improve your balance, cross pattern with your eyes closed or pretend to swim with your eyes closed.

Next blog I will talk about using just your eyes with Cross-Patterning.

What are the benefits of this simple exercise?

• Body awareness;

• Right/left brain hemisphere integration;

• Improved balance;

• Resets and rebuilds your nervous system and spinal muscles;

• Decreases stress;

• Improves learning ability;

• Sharpens vision;

• Improves memory;

• Better coordination;

• Improves academic skills: spelling, reading, listening, comprehension;

• Improves whole-brain learning.
  

 As a figure skater and ice dancer, I always watched the Olympics in awe of what these skaters could do. In the 1980 Olympics, Brian Boitano was seen cross-patterning before he went on the ice to perform! I was so excited because few people knew about energy exercise at that time. He went on to win the Gold Medal for the United States.